Featured Artist: Nora Vetter
This is a series of posts featuring our artists who are making things happen in and around our great borough of Queens. Please check back weekly for new posts.
TitleOccupation
Actor/Playwright
Which Queens neighborhood do you live in and for how long?
Astoria – 6 years in June
How did you get involved in theater?
It all started in public school in Kearney, NE. I got the writing bug when I wrote (and co-performed) a puppet show for a talent show in 1st grade and the acting bug when I was cast as the Queen of Spain in a Columbus Day play in second grade. I will never forget the names of Columbus’ ships thanks to that role – “You may have the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria.” (My only line.)
What do you love most about Queens?
The first word that popped into my head was “genuine”. I like that Queens isn’t Hipster Central and that it’s the home of the Mets. You don’t love Queens because it’s the cool, trendy thing to do. You love Queens almost because it isn’t the cool, trendy thing to do.
Do you have any “only in Queens” moments you’d like to share?
I was using a Queens-Based Car Service (Olympic) to get to LaGuardia and the driver was asking me about where I was going. Then he told me about his travels and said that I needed to go to Greece. Adding in his endearing Greek accent, “You’ll fall in love.” Alas, I have not been to Greece yet so I’ve yet to see if he’s right. 😉
Site (http://sitenyc.com/) – Love, love, love their Queens/Astoria inspired goods!
Soho Cafe & Grill (http://www.sottocafegrill.com/) – I’ve yet to find a better place than here for selection/quality of a “make your own” salad bar. Astor Room (http://www.astorroom.com/) – The History! The Cocktails! The Brunch!
Greater Astoria Historical Society (http://astorialic.org/) – Worth stopping by to see their small display of artifacts and historic photos (some of which Soho Cafe has copies of on their walls) and then get on their email list as they host lots of great events throughout the year. For the vistors to Queens I always recommend – Neptune Diner (although sadly some of it’s Neptune-themed charm was lost when they remodeled), Museum of the Moving Image (http://www.movingimage.us/), Bohemian Hall Beer Garden (http://www.bohemianhall.com/en/Index.php), Flushing Meadows Corona Park (http://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/fmcp), Queens Museum of Art (http://www.queensmuseum.org/), Astoria Park (http://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/AstoriaPark/history) and Gantry Plaza State Park (http://nysparks.com/parks/149/).
And that is merely the tip of the iceberg of things to do and see in Queens…
Current/Upcoming projects?
A one-act I wrote, “The Note” will be a part of the LIC One Act Play Festival at The Secret Theatre, April 18th-21st and may advance to the finals but it will need your audience vote! 🙂 https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pe/9768893
